Moistener for brooms and brushes.



J. c. O'DONAL. ,MOISTBNER FOR BROOMS AND BRUSHES.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 23, 1908.

Patented Aug. 10, 1909.

ANDREW- B. 0mm! 00; wnomunmumills. WASHINGTON. n 6:, D L.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES COVI'NGTON O'DONrlL, OF DEXTER, MISSOURI.

MOISTENER FonBRooMs Ann BRUSHES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 10, 1909.

Application filed June 23, 1908. Serial No. 4 10,0301

To allwhom it may concern."

Be it known that IE, JAMns CovrNc'roN efficient moistener, adapted to be readily ap plied to a broom, and capable of delivering water, oil, disinfectant, or any other liquid to the straw of the broom in quantities desired by the operator.

The invention also has for its object to provide a moistener of this character, adapted to feed the liquid to a broom in small quantities suflicient toenable the broom to effectively lay the dust, andwithoutpermittingany accumulation of the liquid on the floor or other surface, so that there will be no liability of skirts, or other garments becoming soiled through contact with the floor, or the oil or other liquid carried therefrom to ca eted apartments.

ith these and othero-bjects-in view, the invention consists in the construction and novel combination of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended; it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion, size and minor details of construction, within the scope of the claims, may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawing :Figure 1 is a perspective view of a moistening device, constructed in accordance with this invention, and shown applied to a broom. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view, showing a pair of moistening de vices a plied to a broom. Fig. 3 is a detail view of the moistening device, showing the construction of the inner side wall and illustrating the arrangement of the discharge apertures. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of the removable support.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawing.

The moistening device comprises a sheet metal receptacle 1 of substantially oblong form, composed of inner and outer sides 2 and 3 ends 4 and an inclined bottom 5, extending downwardly and rearwardly from the front or outer Wall'tothe inner or rear wall which is larger than the front wall. The lower portion of the receptacle is tapered to provide a lower pocket 6 for collecting water, oil, or otherliquid, and the lower portions of the end walls 4 are ta ered to conform to the configuration of tli l the receptacle. i which fits against the side of a broom head 7, asclearly illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawing, 1 is provide'd in, its lower portion with a horizontal series of apertures 8, located above e bottom of The inner or rearside wall 2,

the lower edge of the inner or rear wall and forming outlets for the liquid contentsof the receptacle 3.

The moistener may be arranged on one or both of the side faces of a broom head and, if

desired, a pair of'moistening devices may be secured to the broom head by horizontal bolts 9-, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawing. The bolts ierce the broom head between the horizonta rows of stitching, and the heads of the bolts engage the inner face 'of' the inner or rear sidewalls of one of the moistening devices, and the nuts of the bolts engage the inner or rear side wall of the other moistening device; The motion of the broom insweeping causes the liquid contents of the moistening device to splash or slosh through the apertures 8, and the liquid in small quantities is thereby delivered to the broom head, and as the flat vertical inner or rear wall of the moistening device fits against the broom head, it is impossible for the liquid to escape through the discharge outlets without coming in-contact with the straw of the broom. The inclined bottom wall causes the free liquid to flow toward the rear Wall, and a comparatively small quantity of free liquid within the pocket will operate effectively in maintaining the broom suffii the configuration of the tapered The tapering legs 13 are removably tted in erates to retain a uantity of liquid and also to strain or filter t e same. The absorbent material is arranged upon a support 11., consisting of a horizontal plate, located within the receptacle at the top of the tapered portions and dividing the receptacle into an upper chamber for the absorbent material, and a lower ocket for the free liquid. The horizontal plate or supporting portion of the support is provided with perforations 12, which permit the liquid to percolate through the support into the lower pocket of the receptacle. The support is preferably constructed of a sin le piece of sheet metal, which has its terminas cut and bent downward to form tapering sides or legs 13, which conform to ocket.

or false bottom extending across the receptacle at a point above the outlet and provided with perforations.

2. A moistener for attachment to a broom or brush head including a receptacle open at the top and provided with an imperforate bottom and having an outlet located above the bottom, and a removable support located above the outlet and provided at intervals with perforations and extending across the receptacle above the said outlet.

3. A moistener for attachment to a broom or brush head including a receptacle provided with an imperforate bottom and having an outlet located above the bottom, and a removable support or false bottom consisting of a plate located above the outlet and provided at intervals with perforations and having its ends bent downward to form supporting legs, the latter being arranged upon the bottom of the receptacle.

4. A moistener for attachment to a broom or brush head including a receptacle open at the top and provided with an imperforate bottom and having an outlet located above the bottom, said receptacle being tapered at the lower portion, and a removable support consisting of a plate extending across the receptacle at a point above the outlet and provided at intervals with perforations and having depending legs resting upon the bottom of the receptacle.

5. A moistener for attachment to a broom or brush head including a receptacle having a lower tapered portion and provided at its inner side with an outlet located above the bottom of the receptacle, and a support located within the receptacle and dividing the same into an upper chamber and a lower pocket, said support consistin of a horizontal plate and tapering legs and t 1e upper chamber and the lower pocket being in communication.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto a'flixed my sigm'tture in the resence of two witnesses.

AMES COVINGTON ODONAL.

Witnesses GEo. W. CoY, S. P. JEFFERS. 

